Ashley Perez on for Jared Buhagiar
Lython Marquez on for David Gallardo
Steven Gilbert on for Dexter Panzavechia

The second massive game to be played in the space of a week sees Gibraltar United face off against basement club Angels F.C. A club that has recently reinforced itself tremendously amid rumours of a take over and fresh investment. United for their part come off a morale boosting win over Glacis United last week. Captain Andrew Lopez is missing after picking up an injury in training meaning that deadline day signing Dexter Panzavechia makes his debut. Montovio takes over the Captain’s armband for the day. Elsewhere its as we were except for the recall of David Gallardo who replaces the suspended Kaylan Rumbo. Lython Marquez, a recent signing from Lions FC earns a spot on the bench as Manolo Nuñez seeks the 3 points that will open a 9 point advantage over Glacis and would take us over Man 62 in the table.

The first 30 minutes of this game was somewhat of a horror show for Gibraltar United. Everything that went wrong did with misplaced passes, complacency and a system that was not doing us any favours. That said Angels came out the more motivated and hungry team and straight from the kick off they were faster, stronger and sharper than the United players. They looked shell shocked as the basement club took the game to us. Their right wing in particular carried a lot of danger and they took a well deserved lead on the half hour mark. This spurred Nuñez into action who made a rare first half sub by bringing on Ashley Perez and reverting to 4 at the back. The tactical change did the team the world of good as Pitu was able to get more on the ball and bring in Dexter and Evan more into play. Try as we could in the closing minutes of the half we couldn’t break Angels down.

Lython Marquez made his debut as a half time substitute and though the game degenerated into a pitch battle there was little goal mouth action other than long range ineffective shots and headers by both sides. United were fighting to get into the match but a resolute Angels team and a rather obstinate and poor referee impeded them. Angels forward Boris Sanchez netted his second after a mix up between Chino and Thomas. Though heads bowed the team surged forward and both Marquez and Montovio had good chances to reduce the defecit. It was Evan Green however who scored his first goal for the club by turning in a Montovio overhead kick that had gone wide. Time however was against us and despite finishing with a flurry it was too little to late and we went down 2-1. Attention now turns to Round 2 of the Rock Cup on Wednesday versus Division 2 Red Imps. The reserves however play on Monday and they are in a rich vein of form.